College Basketball Game Capsules

Spokane, WA (Sports Network) – J.P. Batista’s tip-in with about one minute
left lifted the fourth-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs over the Loyola Marymount
Lions, 68-67, in the West Coast Conference Tournament title game at McCarthey
Athletic Center. Chris Ayer had a chance to win the game for Loyola Marymount
at the buzzer but his layup attempt was too strong as the Bulldogs held
on for their third straight WCC championship and secured an automatic
bid into the NCAA Tournament. Adam Morrison scored a game-high 23 points
to go along with five rebounds and four assists and Batista added 13 points
and 10 boards for Gonzaga (27-3), which has won 18 straight games. Brandon
Worthy scored 15 points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out six assists
and Matthew Knight added 11 points and 11 boards for Loyola Marymount (12-18),
which lost five of its last six games.

Final Score: UNC-Wilmington 78, Hofstra 67

Richmond, VA (Sports Network) – T.J. Carter scored six points in 52 seconds
during a crucial stretch late in the second half, as UNC-Wilmington punched
its ticket to the NCAA tournament with a 78-67 victory over Hofstra in the
Colonial Athletic Association title game at Richmond Coliseum. Carter
converted a three-point play and drained a three-pointer from the left wing
after the Pride had cut a 23-point deficit to three. The guard led the
Seahawks (25-7) with 23 points and 13 rebounds while Todd Henley tallied 15
points in the victory. Beckham Wyrick and Mitch Laue contributed 12 points
apiece in UNC-Wilmington’s eighth straight victory. Loren Stokes spurred
Hofstra (24-6) with 26 points and Carlos Rivera donated 16 points in the
loss. Antoine Agudio added 13 points as the Pride saw their six-game winning
streak end. Hofstra beat second seed George Mason for the second time in
10 days, 58-49, on Sunday to advance to its first conference final. However,
it will now have to wait until Selection Sunday to see if the
committee awards it an at-large bid into the tournament.

Final Score: Iona 80, Saint Peter’s 61

Albany, NY (Sports Network) – Steve Burtt poured in a game-high 28 points and
the Iona Gales advanced to the NCAA tournament with an 80-61 victory over
Saint Peter’s in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game at
the Pepsi Arena. Ricky Soliver added 12 points for the Gales (23-7), who won
their tournament- record seventh championship. Kiril Wachsmann posted a
double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, as the Gales will head to the
Big Dance for the first time since 2001. In the victory Burtt became just
the second Iona player to reach the 2,000- point plateau with 2,011 career
points. The other player ironically was Burtt’s father, Steve, who scored
2,534 during the early 1980s. Keydren Clark led Saint Peter’s (17-15) with 25
points, but playing four games in four days finally took its toll. The
Peacocks defeated Rider, Siena and knocked off top-seeded Manhattan, 84-74, in
the semifinals on Sunday.